Amaranth Edible Red Leaf HEIRLOOM Seeds

Amaranthus tricolor

Item #0146

49-63 days. This amaranth has nutritious, flavorful foliage with a hearty spinach flavor that is sweet and slightly tangy. Amaranth loves the heat and is drought tolerant once established. It makes a great salad ingredient when spring greens have been harvested or are bolting. Steam, stir-fry, sauté, or mix with spaghetti sauce, rice, or meatloaf. Easy to harvest, the seed is about 13% protein-higher than most other grains.

This packet sows up to 133 ft.

Seedling Image

Days to Emerge:5-15 days

Seed Depth:1/8"-1/4"

Seed Spacing:
A group of 3 seeds every 6"

Row Spacing:
12"

Thinning:
When 1" tallthin to 1 every 6"

When to sow outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after average last frost; grows fastest when temperatures are warm. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 68°-75°F. Will germinate in cool soils, though; you might get a jump start by early spring sowing (particularly if growing for seed/grain which takes 90-110 days).

When to start inside: Not
recommended; does not transplant well.

Harvesting: FOLIAGE: Young leaves have a milder flavor than mature leaves. However, leaves are edible before plant blooms, between 7 and 9 weeks. The iron content of the plant doubles between the 7th and 9th week. GRAIN: Wait until seeds are mature and dry. Pull up plant and hang upside down in a warm, dry place; when completely dry, shake seed heads into paper bag. Seeds should be stored in an airtight container. One square yard of amaranth can produce 2 pounds of seed!